#216 – CHOSEN TO LEARN FROM JESUS (19/10/20

Series introduction

This week we start a new series on the subject of discipleship - 'Sent'. Jesus’ last words on earth were to make disciples and so it’s vital that we understand so as to be living in light of what is often called The Great Commission. The words of our commission are:

Life can become very busy and, if we’re not listening to Jesus, we can become busy doing the wrong things or, at least, fail to put first things first.

During this course, you will have daily studies to work through which will enhance and help you to apply what God is teaching us through this series.

I encourage you to keep a journal to write notes, thoughts and prayers as we go through this discipleship series.

Chosen to learn from Jesus

In the age of the New Testament, a pupil would choose their teacher (Rabbi). However, Jesus chose His first disciples and He chooses us to be saved and to learn from Him. A disciple is one who been chosen to ‘learn to live like Jesus’. It’s learning from Him so as to live like Him in this world. Discipleship is helping others to learn from Jesus also.

Being a disciple and making disciple-makers is fundamental to being a Christian. Let’s agree with Jesus that we have been chosen for this. Discipleship is our primary need and what the world needs from us.

Please read Matthew 4:18-23; John 15:16 and consider:

Do you sense the Holy Spirit highlighting anything to you from today’s readings? I encourage you to write down your thoughts.

How does one become a disciple?

What do these verses teach us about the kind of response that one should make to Jesus' invitation to follow Him?

Take a moment to recall the circumstances and people through whom God worked in order to call you to follow Him. Pray that God would use you to help others to come to Jesus.

Please read Isaiah 6:8 (which we will us a lot in this series) and use it to pray, recommitting yourself to following Jesus as His disciple and to go and make disciples yourself.

To memorise this week: Matthew 28:19-20

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY - WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?

Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Suggested opener/Ice-breaker

Who was your most memorable teacher at school and why?

Introduction - please share in your group

This week we began a series on discipleship based upon The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. Let's begin by reading this (this is also our memory verse for this week).

What is a disciple? a good answer is 'A DISCIPLE IS LEARNING TO LIVE LIKE JESUS'. A Christian is to learn from Jesus (principally through His word) and live like Jesus in applying what we learn in everyday life and relationships.

Jesus chose His first disciples and He also chooses us to know Him and learn from Him. This is such a privilege - you have been handpicked to be a pupil of Jesus! However, we are also to choose Jesus - choose to listen and choose to apply what He teaches us.

In application, we were encouraged to be committed to our Community Group where we will seek to grow as disciples together.

IN SMALLER GROUPS

1. To start, ask the group to share what struck them or something that God spoke to them about from Sunday's message.

2. Read this week’s main text (Matthew 4:18-23) and discuss:

i) What does this say about Jesus?

ii) What are the various ways that one could respond to this?

iii) Is there anything, specifically, that Jesus is speaking to you about?

3. Pray for one another